Decoding Al-Qaeda's Strategy: The Deep Battle Against America

The Middle East Institute is proud to host author and MEI adjunct scholar Michael W. S. Ryan for a discussion of his book, Decoding Al-Qaeda's Strategy: The Deep Battle Against America (Columbia University Press, 2013). In his latest book, Dr. Ryan draws on extensive research of al-Qaeda's Salafist roots and of the work of lesser-known al-Qaeda theoreticians, ultimately determining that jihadist terrorism strategy more closely resembles Maoist guerrilla warfare than mainstream Islam. Shifting the focus from jihadist military operations to jihadi ideas, Ryan's analysis of al-Qaeda's strategy against America challenges readers to reevaluate conventional thinking about the organization. After the discussion, Dr. Ryan will sign copies of his book. Bio:Dr. Michael W. S. Ryan is author of Decoding Al Qaeda's Strategy: The Deep Battle Against America (August 2013), a new interpretation based on Arabic Language jihadist documents. Ryan is a senior fellow at the Jamestown Foundation and a Middle East Institute Scholar. He studied Arabic for his PhD at Harvard and at the American University in Cairo. Dr. Ryan has held senior positions at the U.S. Departments of State and Defense and served as vice president at The Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Middle East Institute.